The Ulster County executive and mayors of the Middletown and Newburgh are critical of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s comment that children in his city are more important than those in other cities around the state.

The new mayor’s comments came as he called for taxing the wealthy to fund prekindergarten education for Big Apple schoolchildren.

Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said universal pre-K is “a critical component” to providing all children with educational advantages.

“Children from every corner of the state, regardless of their families’ economic situation, will reap the benefits of early childhood education under Governor (Andrew) Cuomo’s plan,” Hein said.

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Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano said universal full-day pre-K cannot be determined by ZIP code but should be made available to every child in the state who needs it.

“It is important statewide; it is not just a New York City issue,” DeStefano said. “I think the governor is right on issues like education. These initiatives should be done statewide, and I am concerned that if the Legislature allows New York City to do it on its own, then the governor’s proposal, which is going to cost, I believe, over $2 billion over the new few years, will not have the political support to pass statewide because of the New York (City) voting bloc.”

Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy said she was “surprised” to hear de Blasio imply that New York City children are more important that children in Newburgh or other cities around the state.

“In a taxpayer-funded public education system, all students in the state should be given the same opportunities to learn and grow,” Kennedy said.

Universal prekindergarten is a program that “is essential for all our children so they can start out with an equal opportunity,” she said.